Union fails to stop fare rises
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THE TRANSPORT and General Workers' Union has failed in its attempt to stop bus fares in Edinburgh from rising. At a hearing last week, the Scottish Traffic Commissioners reluctantly gave Lothian Region Transport permission for an overall increase of 11 per cent.
But chairman of the Commissioners, Mr A. B. Birnie made a condition that the bus company should reduce its existing Sp lowest fare to 5p. This would be available for a journey of one stage only as an experiment to see if it would encourage short distance travel.
Making a representation on behalf of the TGWU, Mr Weir said the proposals would not solve the financial problems of the department. There had been a 50 per cent cut in staff, a reduction of 1.5 million to 2 million miles of annual running, massive cuts of overtime, 100 vehicles fewer in the fleet and a prospect of only three garages now in place of five. feel that industry and commerce must pay a share of this cost," he said.
Mr Birnie told the court that Lothian Region Transport had made a policy decision that the region should be self-supporting because of Government pressure. In making a decision on the case, the Commis sioners asked what other means of raising money were available to the undertaking. The only answer was the Lothian Region should do more than provide free travel for the aged and infirm. But the region decided not to and it was beyond the authority of the court to alter this.